Recruits Who Failed Checks Were Hired by Capitol Police

Capitol Police officials declined to reveal anything about the irregularities that turned up in the hiring process regarding the recruits. But one of the police sources said that, in addition to problems with some recruits' criminal background checks and psychological examinations, a few were told that they were being dismissed because of false information on their applications.

It was not clear yesterday how the individuals were hired despite having failed to meet requirements. The Capitol Police Web site boasts of a "stringent" selection process, including a written exam, application review, interviews, background investigation, polygraph, medical exam and psychological evaluation. The selection process generally takes six to 12 months, it says.

"Our rigorous process allows us to locate and select the nation's finest," the Web site says.

The 15 dismissed officers were among more than 60 enrolled in two Capitol Police classes at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga., officials said. They will be allowed to appeal their terminations.

The Capitol Police force has expanded rapidly since the Sept. 11 attacks and now has 1,600 sworn officers. According to its Web site, it offers a starting salary of nearly $52,000 a year plus benefits. After 30 months on the job, a private first class is paid more than $60,000, it says.

One police source said the department's leaders became aware of the hiring blunder after an unusually high number of recruits dropped out of two previous Capitol Police classes at the training academy. However, another senior police official said the investigation began because of "other anomalies," which he declined to identify.

Deputy Police Chief Matthew Verderosa has been named acting head of human resources.

Matt Tighe, head of the Fraternal Order of Police labor committee that represents Capitol Police officers, said he and other officers were stunned by the hiring mistakes.

"It's unbelievable this whole thing is going on and there's no accountability," he said.

He added that officers felt sympathy for the recruits who were dismissed after thinking they had met the Capitol Police requirements.

"You had people quit their jobs and move from all over the country to be here," he said.

Yesterday evening, Morse issued a memo to Capitol Police officers reminding them that they are not permitted to discuss personnel matters publicly.

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.